Chapter
18

God led us back to the Body of Christ. Elna and I arrived back in Martha’s Sunday school class. I clearly remember deciding that day that I wouldn’t be quiet and hidden Eddie anymore. I would pour out my heart and ask for help. The class consisted of about 25 people, all couples plus Martha. I had not spoken a word ever in this class. Martha asked the class to dig deep and to share something personal that we were truly struggling with the past week. I thought, “Wow. This is really it. I’m going to share my true heartaches and hang ups with this group of my brothers and sisters in the class.” I took a deep breath and then cleared my throat to talk.

 

However, I was cut off by a woman I will call, Susie Jane. That’s not her real name. Susie Jane began to speak before I did. Susie Jane said that she had the absolute worst week of her entire life. She had a burden and was being forced to make a life altering decision of which the effects would change the trajectory of the rest of her life. I was humbled and awaited to hear the huge decision burdening Susie Jane.

 

Susie Jane, then said, “I am being forced to pick between two completely different wall papers for the guest bathroom in my house. I just don’t know which one to pick.”

 

Rather than laugh at Susie Jane, the class took her dilemma with sincere angst. They quizzed her on the project in an effort to give her sound advice.

 

I was dumbfounded. I had just been on the brink of bubbling out my emotions and my deep hurts. I now thought, “I’m so glad I didn’t open my mouth.” I then buried those emotions deep and sealed the opening in my heart where I kept them.

 

Later, Martha would tell me that she remembered that day clearly. She saw my face and my hurt. She would make every effort to get me back, and she did. However, it would take a longer and more complete process. In the end, it would be a better process with eternal consequences.

 

Week after week Elna and I would attend church both during the week and during Martha’s Sunday school class. I was a pompous intellectual that liked to argue and challenge Martha. What I was really doing was challenging God. The Bible says that iron sharpens iron. That implies that Martha and I were both iron. I might have been some type of weak metal, but Martha was the good stuff. God used Martha and Waylon to mold me in ways that I didn’t recognize, nor did I sign up for.

 

The same thing was happening with Elna. Elna signed up for additional Bible studies as well. God had Elna and I on a speed course of getting to truly know Him and thus fall head over heels in Love with Him.

 

1 John 4

 

16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

 

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.